PROVIDENCE PARK CITY OF MILTON, GEORGIA PARKS AND RECREATION JUNE, 2018 P r o v i d e n c e P a r k M a s t e r P l a n S u m m a r y B a r g e D e s i g n S o l u t i o n s Providence Park Providence Park Master Plan City of Milton, Georgia Prepared For: City of Milton Parks & Recreation Department 2006 Heritage Walk Milton, Georgia 30004 Prepared By: Barge Design Solutions 2839 Paces Ferry Road, SE Suite 850 Atlanta, Georgia 30339 June, 2018 P r o v i d e n c e P a r k M a s t e r P l a n S u m m a r y B a r g e D e s i g n S o l u t i o n s 1 Providence Park The Providence Park Master Plan was prepared with the participation and guidance of the Citizens of the City of Milton, Project Stakeholders, Department Staff, and City Offi - cials. We appreciate your time and effort, thank you! City of Milton, City Council Members Mayor Joe Lockwood Peyton Jamison - District 1 Laura Bentley - District 2 / Post 1 Matt Kunz - District 2 / Post 2 Mayor Pro Tem Joe Longoria - District 3 / Post 1 Rick Mohrig - District 3 / Post 2 City of Milton Parks and Recreation Advisory Board David Shannon Todd Townes Ron Hill Jason Alberici Joey Costanzo Scott Stachowski Phil Cranmer P r o v i d e n c e P a r k M a s t e r P l a n S u m m a r y B a r g e D e s i g n S o l u t i o n s 2 Providence Park TABLE OF CONTENTS: SECTION 1.0 PROJECT GOALS / OBJECTIVES page 4 SECTION 2.0 PROJECT UNDERSTANDING page 5 SECTION 3.0 PROJECT APPROACH page 5 SECTION 4.0 SITE INVENTORY & ANALYSIS page 8 SECTION 5.0 PROGRAM OPTIONS page 10 SECTION 6.0 PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT page 10 6.1 Concept Development page 10 6.2 Preliminary Master Plan page 16 6.3 Final Master Plan page 19 6.4 Long-Term Master Plan & Phase I Development page 19 6.5 Providence Park Master Plan Adoption page 20 6.6 Program Elements page 21 SECTION 7.0 GRAPHICS A. Inventory & Analaysis - Soils Analysis page 31 B. Inventory & Analaysis - Slope Analysis page 33 C. Inventory & Analaysis - Vegetation Analysis page 35 D. Inventory & Analaysis - Opportunities / Constraints page 37 E. Concept 1 - Community Gathering page 39 F. Concept 2 - Adventure Play page 41 G. Concept 3 - Learning Environment page 43 H. Preliminary Master Plan (January 9, 2018) page 45 I. Final Master Plan (February 12, 2018) page 47 J. ADA Compliant Multi-Use Trail (February 12, 2018) page 49 K. Long-Term Master Plan (April 26, 2018) page 51 L. Phasing Plan (April 26, 2018) page 53 SECTION 8.0 APPENDICES A. Community Input Tabulations & Comments page 57 B. Opinion of Probable Cost - Phasing Option page 63 C. 2014 Providence Park Aerial page 71 D. Meeting Minutes page 75 P r o v i d e n c e P a r k M a s t e r P l a n S u m m a r y B a r g e D e s i g n S o l u t i o n s 3 Providence Park SECTION PROJECT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 1.0 The 2018 City of Milton Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan included a pro- totype for Community Parks, which serve as the centerpiece of the park system. According to the plan, Community Parks are intended to be accessible to multiple neighborhoods and should focus on meeting community-based recreation needs, as well as preserving unique landscape and open spaces. Community parks should balance active and passive uses, team and individual recreation serving all age groups and abilities. However, due to topograph- ic challenges, shallow rock, and the desire to preserve much of the natural landscape of the site, this park is to be developed as a Passive Community Recreation Park. Passive recre- ation or “low intensity recreation” emphasizes the open-space aspect of a park and allows for the preservation of the natural environment. It typically involves a lower level of development, non-programmed recreation opportunities in a managed environment. Typical Passive Community Parks can include facilities such as: playgrounds, picnic ar- eas and pavilions, nature trails, paved multi-use trails, accessible public open space such as meadow or woodland, tennis, basketball and sand volleyball courts, disk golf course, dog park, irrigated turf fi eld for informal non-organized sports and free play. Passive Community Parks are increasingly popular amongst residents as they not only protect and conserve natural areas, but also provide for some level of public usage, par- ticularly for unstructured and self-scheduled forms of recreation such as walking, hiking, riding, or nature enjoyment. This report addresses the development of park services on the recently acquired 42-acre Providence Park. The goals driving this master plan include the following: • Preserve much of the natural and scenic qualities of the park • Integrate a variety of diverse passive recreation activities which will serve a variety of age groups and abilities. • Emphasize the unique recreation assets the site has to offer with regards to Providence Lake and the former quarry. P r o v i d e n c e P a r k M a s t e r P l a n S u m m a r y B a r g e D e s i g n S o l u t i o n s 4 Providence Park • Establish appropriate facilities that promote enthusiasm and stewardship for the natural environment. • Respect the constraints imposed by the limited developable area of the site. SECTION PROJECT UNDERSTANDING 2.0 The City of Milton purchased Providence Park from Fulton County in 2015. The site consists of approximately 42 acres and is located wholly within the City of Milton, Georgia. The proper- ty had been utilized as a park since 1971 un- til it was closed by Fulton County in 2004 for environmental cleanup, then reopened by the City of Milton in 2016 after its purchase. Prior to 1971, the property was utilized as a Fulton County road aggregate quarry and mainte- nance facility. Currently the park consists of a condemned lodge building, a network of soft surface trails, a small outdoor classroom and a fi shing lake (Lake Providence). The lake was reportedly constructed around 1970 as a watershed. The quarry, though fenced, remains as an open pit, but is not open to the pub- lic. A breach in the dam at the top of the quarry has allowed water to spill into the quarry, fl ooding it. At one time, the quarry housed a rock climbing venue and was actively utilized by park patrons. The existing park entrance and small parking area are located off Provi- dence Park Drive. The site is bounded on the west, south, and east by private residences and to the north by Providence Lake. The park property is currently open to the public with limited vehicular access into the site. While there are no structured facilities for use, there are two marked natural surface trails that wind throughout the site and are used, daily, by the community. Due to topographic challenges, shallow rock, and the desire to preserve much of the nat- ural landscape of the site, this park is to be developed as a passive recreation park. The exact mix of park amenities will be determined by working with the citizens of the City of Milton and City Staff. SECTION PROJECT APPROACH 3.0 Using a typical Master Planning project approach toward Providence Park, the project passed through a series of design stages before a Final Master Plan was approved. The P r o v i d e n c e P a r k M a s t e r P l a n S u m m a r y B a r g e D e s i g n S o l u t i o n s 5 Providence Park following represent the milestones completed along the way. • Notice to proceed issued to Barge Design Solutions • Data Collection / Development of Inventory and Analysis graphics • Flyers advertising public meeting distributed, Stakeholders notifi ed, public meeting advertised • Stakeholder Meeting - Presentation of Inventory & Analysis / Programming discussion • Public Meeting #1 – Presentation of Inventory & Analysis / Programming discussion • Presentation of Concept Drawings to City Staff / Parks & Rec. Advisory Board • Public Meeting #2 - Presentation of Preliminary Master Plan • Presentation of Preliminary Master Plan to Recreation Advisory Board • Presentation of Final Master Plan / Opinion of Probable Cost to City Council • Public Meeting #3 - Long Term Master Plan / Phase 1 Master Plan • Presentation to City Council- Long Term Master Plan / Phase 1 Master Plan / Opinion of Probable Costs • Providence Park Master Plan Adoption The following provides a brief description and timeline of sequence of Meetings. Refer to Appendix D - Meeting Minutes (Page 75) for more information on each meeting. Preparation of Base Information Barge Design Solutions prepared AutoCAD base information utilizing GIS fi les, survey data and aerial photography obtained from the City of Milton. Park Site Visits / Inventory and Analysis. Consultants conducted multiple site visits during the early phases of the design process; walking the entire site, including the lake edges, adjacent marsh areas and quarry bottom. The intent of the site walks was to become familiar with the natural features of the site and to identify the opportunities and constraints of the park itself.